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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Eric McGowan

Chris Strain praises quality of Kilwinning Rangers goals as Rutherglen rolled over

Chris Strain praised the quality of Kilwinning Rangers' goals after they rolled over Rutherglen to earn a big three points on a dreadful afternoon for football.

The Buffs took time to find their stride in wild, wet and windy conditions but ran out comfortable winners thanks to second-half goals from David Syme, Ally McColm and Thomas Collins.

Boss Strain singled out Syme's crucial headed opener from a corner and McColm's mazy solo goal in particular as his side strengthened their grip on third place in the West of Scotland League Premier Division.

He said: "Getting the first goal from the set play pleases me because we work on those things.

"You then see the individual bit of brilliance that Ally McColm has for his goal and he's produced a lovely pass for the third goal which Thomas tucks away well.

"They're the things that separate tight games on days like that.

"To get a 3-0 victory and be untroubled in a defensive manner, I'm delighted."

Buffs had the advantage of a strong wind at their backs in the first-half but struggled to make their superior possession count.

Glens goalkeeper Matt McGinley only had one save of note to make - when David Ramsay registered the game's first shot on target in 20 minutes.

McGinley's opposite number Jamie Barclay was a virtual bystander by comparison, with only a Liam Coogans effort that found the side netting giving him cause for concern before the half-time whistle sounded.

The visitors would have been the happier of the two sides to go in goalless at the break having endured the worst of the elements in the opening 45 minutes.

But they conceded just two minutes after the restart when Syme peeled off his marker to bullet home a header from Ben Lewis's corner kick delivery.

David Syme broke the deadlock (Kilmarnock Standard)

It was almost 2-0 five minutes later when Lewis Gardiner's daisy-cutter from 22 yards came back off the post.

Glens just couldn't get going and, with the wind noticeably calmer, were finding it hard to repel Kilwinning's attacks.

Buffs replaced winger Gavin Millar with frontman McColm on the hour mark and the super sub produced a moment of magic in the 74th minute to put daylight between the sides.

The former Stranraer starlet showed exceptional quick feet and close control to ghost past two challenges before rifling a shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the box.

McColm would also have a say in Buffs' third goal five minutes from time.

His deft clipped pass in behind the Glens defence in the 85th minute was the killer ball in a lovely passage of play that ended with Collins firing through McGinley's legs at the near post.

Victory maintains Buffs' unbeaten start to the year and Strain believes his side can only get better.

He added: "We're still missing a couple of players through injuries but the quality we've got in the squad is really, really high.

"When I've got everybody fit, I've got headaches."

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